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Savior.

By definition, it refers to a person who rescues those in distress and adversity.

At first glance, they may seem like an indispensable presence in this world, but this can vary in meaning depending on the situation.

While they may be able to provide salvation to some, they can also bring despair to others.

Despite Violet’s sudden behavior, Jereon asked calmly.

“With these wrinkled old hands, who do you expect me to save?”

“For starters, we should rescue the knights who have lost their way and are wandering in chaos. The saintess may have headed the knights, but wasn’t it Jereon who practically led them? You can provide great reassurance to those troubled by confusion.”

Several years have passed since his retirement, but Jereon is still highly respected by many former knights of the Order of Light, so it was a well-crafted request to indoctrinate the knights.

Yes, that was within the expected scope, so it wasn’t particularly surprising.

The problem lay ahead.

Jereon thought he needed to know where he would use the power of the Order of the Knights, which he had acquired even at the cost of himself.

“Did Saintess Nephrodite really commit suicide?”

“That’s what I was told. Surely my sister wouldn’t lie to me.”

However, Violet’s thinly torn eyes did not speak the truth.

“It’s surprising. I heard that the Saintess and Commander Jereon weren’t particularly close…”

“We’ve spent 30 years together. Even though we didn’t get along well, we’ve spent all that time knowing what we knew and not knowing what we didn’t. But the Nephrodite I know…”

Jereon gently withdrew his hand from the princess’s hand and then suddenly spoke with closed eyes.

“She’s definitely not the type to commit suicide.”

“It’s said that you can’t know what’s in someone’s heart, even if you spend a lifetime with them. Perhaps she was such a case.”

There was a fatal error in that statement.

Saintess Nephrodite was not human, but a High Elf.

“Do you know why she went to the Kingdom of Garam?”

“I heard she went there to pursue some plan related to the White Elves, but I don’t know the details.”

“Then let me explain briefly. Her goal was to find records from ancient times, to confront the existence of the mist.”

Jereon’s complexion darkened for a moment.

Within a short sentence, there were two words that strongly stimulated his mind: the records of ancient times and,

“The existence of the mist?”

The moment he heard it, he recalled the existence of that man.

“Yes. Commander, do you remember the day seven years ago in Brenu, when the mist cleared the light?”

“Of course.”

“After that worst day we never thought would come, we realized. With our current selves, we can’t handle the power of the mist that has grown without warning…”

The plural term ‘we’ seemed quite ominous.

Not alone, but many.

As of now, Jereon couldn’t know who they were.

“The essence of the mist was said to be an unseen unknown. The light shining on the continent cannot dispel that mist. What do you think we should do to overcome this desperate situation? Commander?”

In the princess’s question, which contained several meanings, Jereon was struck not by an answer but by a question.

Who could define it as a desperate situation?

For us, the mist is still an unknown existence.

“Was it too difficult a question? I was hoping for a novel answer from you, Commander, but it’s a pity.”

Violet withdrew with a somewhat regretful expression.

“In the end, after much deliberation, we came up with an answer. Since the light that cannot dispel the mist can no longer act as our order, we need to establish a new order that is not light.”

“A new order?”

“Yes. But Saintess Nephrodite opposed this. She believed that only light could save this world. After realizing that it was wrong, perhaps she chose to end her life. It’s truly a lamentable thing…”

– Thud, thud.

Jereon’s eyes, listening to the princess’s story, suddenly turned towards the door.

Footsteps approaching from the end of the corridor towards them.

Unsettling footsteps that seemed to emanate the aura of a culprit.

“So, to sum it up, Your Highness and her people want me to join in creating the new order, is that it?”

“You got it right. What will you do? Will you give us an answer right away?”

“I don’t understand. I am like a dying man with not many days left to live. Where do you expect to use an old man who may fall at any moment?”

“More allies are always better, aren’t they?”

Violet’s response was ambiguous.

“To be honest, I’m not sure either. It wasn’t me who wanted you, it was someone else.”

“…?”

“And they are not my people. I am, after all, one of his people.”

Jereon, hearing this unexpected fact, furrowed his brow lightly.

A member of the noble royal family claiming to be someone else’s person?

Unlike Jereon, who was more bewildered than ever, the princess’s face was unusually serene.

– Knock, knock.

As the knocking on the door gradually intensified, both of their gazes turned towards it.

“It seems like everyone’s here. Let’s talk directly. Who will lead us to the new order we are going towards, the savior…”

Finally, as the door opened, two men entered with faint smiles.

“Greetings to the esteemed former Commander of the Order of Light, Jereon Alkin.”

A golden-haired man with a radiant appearance bowed his head respectfully to him.

Jereon immediately recognized who he was.

Although they weren’t personally acquainted, he resembled someone with whom Jereon shared a significant connection.

The owner of a certain duke’s estate, known as the guardian of the continent.

“I am Aschel Vert.”

At his waist hung a gleaming golden sword emitting the aura of light.

* * *

“To surpass oneself consumed by anger is the only way to grasp the assassin’s sword. Well, it’s certainly not something that can be done lightly.”

Luna raised her eyebrows slightly, showing an interested reaction.

In her hand was a mist manifesto circulating in various monasteries of the current empire.

“I pride myself on having read all the books in this world, but this is the first time I’ve seen such a book. If I had the leisure, I’d like to hold onto it for days and analyze it.”

In front of her, Schurz, who had delivered the book, stood with an awkward expression.

If his current mood were to be expressed, it was much more desolate than when he returned from a failed mercenary mission.

“Why do you wear such a miserable expression like a puppy that needs to pee?”

“I, I feel ashamed. Because I could only handle the task entrusted by you in this way…”

At Schurz’s self-reproach, she chuckled.

“Your standards are strange. I’m more than satisfied with what you’ve done right now, to the point of being amazed.”

“R-Really?”

“I don’t speak empty words.”

Despite Luna’s indifferent reply, Schurz inwardly sighed with relief.

“Schurz, were you really thinking of entering the mist?”

“Yes?”

“Just responding to a trial that surpasses oneself implies a willingness to go there to some extent, doesn’t it?”

“I hadn’t really thought that far. I think I just responded to the desire to surpass myself…”

Schurz replied, unconsciously turning his head.

Upon this, Luna didn’t inquire further.

“Anyway, thank you for your hard work. You’ve provided me with much more valuable information than what I’ve gathered during my wandering for seven years.”

“But, did you come alone?”

“Yes.”

Luna glanced at Schurz again as if questioning if something was wrong.

“What about the other members of the society or the guardians?”

“There are none. I snuck out secretly.”

Schurz, momentarily thinking he misheard, blinked his eyes twice.

“By now, the society must have been turned upside down. Grandfather must have been furious. So what now? I’m already in the empire.”

It seemed like a routine occurrence, as she showed a nonchalant response.

“So, what do you plan to do from now on?”

“Even during my journey from Gaul to Brenu here, I kept hearing interesting news without a break.”

The negotiation settlement and the subsequent dissolution of the Order of Light following the suicide of Saintess Nephrodite, whom they had extradited.

It was not only something not to be taken lightly but also something that would not be limited to the affairs of the empire alone.

“Do you really think Saintess Nephrodite committed suicide, Schurz?”

Schurz couldn’t bring himself to answer rashly.

“We can’t be sure. We didn’t witness the situation firsthand. But we can speculate to some extent. Turning that speculation into certainty is a very difficult task…”

Already, Schurz could sense it.

She didn’t believe that Saintess Nephrodite had committed suicide.

“How can you not speculate when you see those eyes?”

Luna couldn’t forget the gaze of Princess Arin she encountered at the negotiation table the previous day.

Eyes filled with a deep sense of melancholy.

Ironically, it didn’t seem to contain many good things.

With a small smile, Luna looked at Schurz and asked,

“Would you like to go together, Schurz? To the palace…”

* * *

“I can only apologize repeatedly, Arin.”

“If you keep doing that, I’ll have no choice but to ask you to stop apologizing. Father.”

In humans, illness is a very harsh element not only for the sufferer but also for the observer.

The once strong and firm emperor of the empire was no more.

Only a human steeped in suffering, reduced to misery and weakness, remained.

Arin struggled to hide the emotions rising within her behind a smile.

“I’m both sorry and proud. You’ve filled my void so well.”

“We’re still far from enough. Please recover quickly and point out and correct our mistakes. Father.”

“Very well. I’ll do just that for your sake.”

Emperor Dionne stared at Arin, who was smiling.

“Arin.”

“Yes, Father.”

“You don’t need to hide your worries.”

Flustered, Arin couldn’t respond immediately.

“W-what do you mean?”

“As a human yourself, I know there are burdens you can’t share with anyone. I won’t ask you to share them with me as your father. But I hope you find someone to confide in, even if it’s not for the sake of the royal family, at least for your own sake…”

It was sincere advice from a father, not an emperor.

Though Arin was filled with resentment up to her throat, she managed to say,

“I will remember that, Father.”

That was all she could say for now.

After bidding farewell to the emperor and empress, Arin returned to her chambers immediately.

Without even a moment’s rest, as she was about to resume her work, Resimus approached her.

“Former Commander of the Order of Light, Jereon Alkin, has arrived at the palace. He seems to be having a discussion with Princess Violet in her chambers.”

“…”

Arin didn’t question further.

“Is it okay if you don’t go?”

“There’s nothing that will change even if I go. My sister will handle it.”

As if it was none of her concern, Arin calmly resumed her work.

Resimus, after rolling his eyes for a moment, leaned in closer to Arin and whispered softly,

“The whereabouts of the White Elves have been identified.”

Arin’s eyes widened in response.

“Where are they?”

“They’ve just crossed the border from the Garam Kingdom to our empire. They might not return to Spania Kingdom, but it seems they chose to head towards our empire for a swift return.”

While she pondered for a moment, Resimus quickly pulled out a map of the empire and spread it out on the desk.

“The fastest route back to Pruina would be through the direction of the palace. However, they probably wouldn’t want much contact with humans, so they might avoid this area. Perhaps they might…”

Resimus’s finger pointed to a location not far from the palace.

“This place seems to be the most likely route.”

It was the territory of the Quazel family, the former Empress, Diana Quazel’s family.

Aquiel.